Project Actions

Project Activities

We plan to set the conservation objectives for Natura 2000 sites at the national and individual site level during the project, according to the favourable conservation status criteria for habitats and species of Community interest. We also aim to improve the efficiency of management, monitoring and analysis processes, strengthen institutional capacity for the protection and management of Natura 2000 sites, and to ensure the integration of biodiversity protection objectives into other policies, especially in the agricultural, forestry and tourism sectors. To achieve these goals, it is planned to implement 50 different activities, which will complement each other and contribute to the implementation of the Prioritized Action Framework (hereinafter – PAF) – the National Strategic document for Natura 2000 areas.

A.1 Filling baseline gaps, setting favourable reference values and SMART conservation objectives

It is planned to determine specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely conservation objectives for Natura 2000 areas at national and local level in order to ensure better planning of conservation measures for natural habitats and protected animal and plant species of Community interest, to properly assess the effectiveness of these measures and to determine the real conservation status of protected habitats and species. In order to achieve this goal, it is planned to take an inventory of 33 currently little-known species of Community interest in Lithuania, identify areas important for their protection, thus ensuring the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Partner – action leader State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment
Involved partners: Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration

A.2 Revision and acceleration of nature management planning process

The experience already gained in the preparation of nature management plans will be assessed, paying special attention to the content and purpose of the plans, their legal status and the resources required for their preparation. Emerging problems and good practices will be also summarized, and specific proposals will be developed how to improve the nature management planning process, enabling the transfer of procedures to the electronic space. In the later stage of the project implementation, it is planned to prepare at least 20 new nature management plans for Natura 2000 sites and to update at least 50 already approved ones according to the new model of the nature management planning process.

Partner-action leader: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment
Involved partners: Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto Žemės ūkio akademija, Lietuvos Respublikos aplinkos ministerija

A.3 Strengthening integration of nature conservation measures into Rural development programme

Considering the innovative experience of EU countries and assessing the shortcomings of typical agri-environmental measures, new agri-environmental measures will be developed and implemented, as well as suggestions on how to improve existing ones. Farmers will be able to contribute more effectively to the conservation of nature on agricultural land by applying the result-oriented agri-environmental measures developed by the project and receiving the corresponding payments. This will help to ensure greater coherence between biodiversity protection objectives and agricultural policy.

Partner – action leader: Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
Involved partners: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum Lithuania, National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration

A.4 Strengthening integration of nature conservation measures into forest management planning

While seeking to maintain the favourable conservation status of species and habitats of Community interest in Natura 2000 forest areas, there are some problems with restrictions on forest ownership, conflicts of interest between forest owners and nature conservation. Therefore, the project aims to address regulatory gaps by detailing potential conflicts of interest, proposing solutions and means.

In order to fully integrate the protection aspects of the Natura 2000 network into the forest management sector, points of contact between biodiversity conservation measures and forest management plans will be sought. Particular attention will be paid to open forest habitats, the favourable conservation status of which is not possible without the application of nature management measures.
Based on international and national scientific experience and practical testing of alternative environmental measures in the forests of Dzukija National Park, two important documents will be prepared: “Recommendations on forest habitats management in protected areas” and “Forest Management Planning Standards”. The latter document will cover standard planning procedures for each habitat and species of Community interest, depending on the type of stand.

Partner – action leader: Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy
Involved partners: Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum, State Forest Enterprise

A.5 Preparatory activities for conservation works in pilot territories

Preparation of legal and technical documents for the implementation of specific nature protection measures in the selected Aukstaitija and Dzukija national parks.

Partner-action leader: NGO Baltic Environmental Forum
Involved partners: Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment

A.6 Set up of Natura 2000 Methodical analytical centre

The Methodical-Analytical Center under the State Service for Protected Areas was established at the beginning of the project implementation in 2018. It brought together highly experienced environmental experts to implement the activities of the LIFE Integrated Project “Naturalit” and the Prioritized Action Framework.

The main tasks of the Methodical-Analytical Center are: to collect and analyze data on species and habitats of Community interest, assess their conservation status, set conservation objectives and necessary conservation measures for Natura 2000 sites, improve the nature management planning process, review existing management plans and prepare new ones. It also provides expert assistance to the responsible authorities in conducting environmental impact assessments, prepares an action plan for the protection of priority species, consults on issues of biodiversity conservation and monitoring, ensures the links of nature management with the implementation of relevant measures in other sectors, especially agriculture and forestry. The center is also responsible for the establishment of new protected areas and the repurchase of private land for nature protection purposes.

Partner-action leader: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment

C.1 Filling Natura 2000 network gaps: site establishment and land purchase

According to the Habitats and Birds Directives, special protection areas must be established in the Member States, which form part of the common Natura 2000 network. The project will aim to complete all the necessary procedures for the Natura 2000 network in Lithuania to function as an integrated ecological network. In order to achieve this goal, it is planned to add new sites to the network and to adjust the boundaries of existing areas (after carrying out the necessary studies) and to establish the necessary protection measures. This will be done by ensuring the involvement and active participation of all stakeholders in decision-making.

These activities include the purchase of at least 100 ha of private forest and agricultural land in Natura 2000 sites and the signing of at least 50 conservation agreements with private landowners to preserve species and habitats of Community interest on their holdings.

Partner-action leader: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment
Involved partners: Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum

C.2 Pilot forest conservation management plan implementation in Dzukija National Park

Most of Dzukija National Park belongs to the Natura 2000 network, but the current regulation of nature management measures does not help to maintain the favourable conservation status of many protected habitats and species. Therefore, a forest management project with integrated different nature management measures will be implemented in the park territory and their impact on the conservation status will be assessed. Various measures of forest landscape formation are foreseen: clear felling for dune uncovering and mosaic structure of forest habitats, increase of tree species diversity, increase of dead wood, controlled burning of forest cover for restoration of boreal forest habitats. These measures will help to restore and improve the favourable conservation status of forest habitats and species of Community interest in the region.

Partner-action leader: Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve
Involved partners: Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, State Forest Enterprise

C.3 Implementation of innovative agri-environmental schemes and its management approaches

After analysing the best practices of the EU countries and selecting the most appropriate models for Lithuanian conditions, innovative agri-environmental measures will be implemented and tested in the pilot areas, their impact will be monitored and proposals for Lithuanian Agriculture and Rural Development strategic plan for 2021-2027 will be submitted. Great attention will be paid to the monitoring of the social environment and to active involvement of all stakeholders. Concrete proposals will be prepared for the integration of new support schemes and methods into the new period of Lithuanian Agriculture and Rural Development strategic plan based on the results of these activities.

It is also planned to provide concrete solutions to strengthen the administration of these measures, involving the administrations of protected areas in the process. New and improved measures to protect existing biodiversity will be developed to ensure a stronger focus on biodiversity conservation.

Partner-action leader: Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum
Involved partners: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration

C.4 Establishment of a full cycle of maintaining Favourable Conservation Status (FCS) of wetland habitats

In order to ensure sustainable management of Natura 2000 network areas, it is planned to restore and maintain a valuable wetland in the Uzpelkiai Telmological Reserve of the Zemaitija National Park, which was drained and exploited. The most innovative technologies will be used. The required water level and typical vegetation will be restored, creating conditions for the restoration of the raised bog instead of the peat bog. The tested methods can be later applied to the restoration of other valuable Lithuanian wetlands.

One of the problems faced by protected area administrations in restoring wetlands is the large amount of reed biomass that grows here, as it is difficult to process technologically and it’s also unsuitable for animal feeding due to low nutrient content. Therefore, the most cost-effective and efficient way of using such biomass will be tested and proposed in the Zemaitija National Park – composting sites are going to be installed in strategically convenient places in the territory of the Zemaitija National Park.

Partner-action leader: Zemaitija National Park Administration
Involved partners: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment

C.5 Promoting animal grazing for sustainable and economically viable management of open habitats

It is planned to implement different cooperation initiatives with landowners and farmers and national park directorates in the territories of Aukstaitija and Dzukija National Parks. The main aim of such cooperation is to create a more favourable social environment for nature protection, to agree on the management of areas of exceptional natural value through extensive grazing. In selected areas of Aukstaitija and Dzukija National Parks, it is planned to improve the ecological condition of open habitats by restoring valuable agrarian landscape habitats and to create a basis for establishing livestock grazing traditions in the region, installing livestock grazing infrastructure, reviving pastoral traditions and promoting local entrepreneurship.

Parner-action leader: NGO Baltic Environmental Forum
Involved partners: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration

C.6 Promotion of local business benefiting from ecosystem services delivered by Natura 2000

The restoration of a valuable but damaged natural object (Grybauliai fishery ponds) in the Natura 2000 territory in Dzukija National Park and its adaptation to tourism is planned. This activity of the project will promote the development of environmentally-friendly businesses in the region – fishery, animal husbandry, nature tourism. The development of local businesses based on public-private partnerships will ensure that the multifaceted socio-economic benefits of the Natura 2000 network are recognized and, most importantly, that local communities are supported and involved in this process.

Partner-action leader: NGO Baltic Environmental Forum
Involved partners: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration

C.7 Capacity and knowledge building in development of innovative biodiversity conservation, population and habitat evaluation methods

In order to implement the goals of the Biodiversity Strategy 2030, intensive co-operation will be established with interested institutions in Europe, developing innovative methods of biodiversity protection and adapting them to Lithuania. During the implementation of the project, the concepts of “No Net Loss” and “Biodiversity Offsetting” will be analysed. National guidelines for the implementation of these concepts will be also developed.

Innovative methods will be developed, tested and standardized for monitoring of populations and habitats. An assessment of such “difficult to monitor” species as woodpeckers and owls, monitoring of breeding and migratory birds, and an assessment of the small flycatcher population will be performed using the most advanced technologies and modelling tools. The development of assessment methods for species that are difficult to monitor due to their closed lifestyle in remote habitats will help to obtain much more accurate monitoring results and at the same time save the working time of ecologists.

It is also planned to test and adapt remote monitoring tools for monitoring changes in the condition of habitats and effectiveness of agri-environmental measures. If these remote measures are successful, funds will be sought for their integration into the agri-environmental administrative system, and they will be used to assess the habitats and the nature management process.

Partners – action leaders: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy
Involved partners: Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum, National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture

C.8 Capacity building

The main objectives of this activity are to improve the qualifications of the staff of the institutions involved in the management of the Natura 2000 network, to concentrate expertise in the institutional system (thus making it less dependent on the services of external experts) and to create an internal training, knowledge and experience transfer system. The activities are aimed at organizations involved in the management of protected areas and will be implemented through adapted training programs, internal internships and foreign visits.

Partner-action leader: Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
Involved partners: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum, National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture.

D. Monitoring of conservation actions impact and PAF implementation

The effectiveness of applied conservation measures will be monitored (especially such as new agri-environmental and forest management measures or innovative monitoring methods) and the quantitative and qualitative environmental impact of project activities will be assessed at project level and throughout the Natura 2000 network. A measurement of the socio-economic impact of the project activities will also be carried out, which in turn will help to demonstrate the social and economic benefits of the Natura 2000 network.

Project partners will also be responsible for the timely monitoring of the implementation of the Prioritized Actions Framework, ensuring the involvement of all stakeholders.

Partners – action leaders: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
involved partners: Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum, Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania

E.1 Project visibility, dissemination of project results

Nowadays communication is a very important part of the job. In order to strengthen and expand the network of Natura 2000 sites, it is necessary to raise people awareness of the natural values and the various social and economic benefits of the network. People will be more willing to assume some of the inconveniences of restricting economic activity in protected areas by understanding the value of ecosystem services provided by nature, such as clean drinking water, forest goods, protection against floods and soil erosion, climate change mitigation, and knowing specific protected species. Being aware about all those benefits they will support ambitious environmental policy.

In addition, communication activities include not only the dissemination of project objectives and achievements, but also provide an opportunity to transfer accumulated knowledge and experience at national and international level, thus ensuring the wider applicability and use of project results.

Partner – action leader: Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
Involved partners: Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration, State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania.

E.2 Awareness raising about Natura 2000 and ecosystem services in Lithuania

These activities will raise public awareness of the values of the Natura 2000 network, involving target groups such as disabled people and local communities. It is planned to expand the existing infrastructure of the national parks information system about the Natura 2000 network territories, adapting it to people with specific needs. Nature festivals are organized in national parks in order to demonstrate the benefits of protected areas to local communities. The label of the Product of Protected Areas is also developed and promoted.

Partner – action leader: NGO Baltic Environmental Forum
Involved partners: Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration, State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania

E.3 Experience exchange and replication

Project team members regularly participate in international events and organize meetings in Lithuania to strengthen their qualifications and share good practices with experts from other countries, to establish and maintain close contacts with other LIFE integrated or nature projects.

Partner – action leader: Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania

Involved partners: Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration, State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy

F.1 Overall project management and administration

Project management is an integral part of successful project implementation, including coordination and control of activities and budget, involvement of social partners, project monitoring, documentation, activity and financial reporting, organization of activities and budget changes, communication with the European Commission and its designated authority responsible for the administration of the project and with external observers.

Partner – action leader: Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
Involved partners: Aukstaitija National Park and Labanoras Regional Park Administration, Dzukija National Park and Cepkeliai Strict Nature Reserve Administration, Zemaitija National Park Administration, State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, NGO Baltic Environmental Forum, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, National Paying Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, State Forest Enterprise

F.3 Revision of PAF

The main goal of the integrated project “Naturalit” is to implement a Prioritized Action Framework (PAF) – national strategic document for Natura 2000 sites. Since it was prepared and approved for 2014-2020 period, our project is committed to review and update it for the next EU financial period.

Partner – action leader: Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
Involved partners: State Service for Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Projects Management Agency under the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania

Main Expected Outcomes

Objectives and Actions

The project “Optimizing the management of Natura 2000 network in Lithuania” (LIFE IP PAF-NATURALIT), No. LIFE16 IPE/LT/016 is financed by the EU LIFE Programme and the Republic of Lithuania. Webpage authors take full responsibility for the content of this website. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of European Commission.